Man, I need whatever you had for breakfast. Dear lord that's some serious optimism.
We still have a upgraded roster
- Thread starter zoid1
- Start date
I honestly can't see how someone looks at that roster and thinks we are upgraded. At best, we're level par with this past year.
I also don't think there's any scenario where we are done. I think we add one, if not two, pieces that will play significant minutes.
Well God bless Lamont, but if Lowe stays healthy all year at worst it's a push.
Still think we need a backup PG/combo. Wilkerson, and hopefully Alvaro but who knows now. We need at least one other big man IMO preferably a stretch four. JQ will be not 100%, and Mo at the 4. Moreno and Garrison at that 5 as of now. Can’t rely on health and freshman for 2/4 spots.
We aren’t finished recruiting. Adding Wilkerson and another point guard and another big guy will put us in contention
Break it down like this and we look way better next year:
Returnees:
2024 - none
2025 - Oweh, Chandler, Garrison, Noah, Perry (HUGE upgrade)
Incoming Freshmen:
2024 - Noah, Perry
2025 - Johnson, Moreno (HUGE upgrade)
Incoming Transfers
2024 - #5 class per 247
2025 - #2 class per 247 (Upgrade per rankings, but we'll see)
Based on that, 2025 should have a much better roster. I loved the 2024 transfers, but Mark Pope had an awful lot to do with that. Those guys weren't ranked nearly as highly as our new guys.
Aside from that, we have addressed playmaking, athleticism, toughness, rebounding and rim protection, which were weaknesses last season. Defense should be upgraded substantially, although losing Butler hurts on the perimeter. We are downgrading 3pt%. Adding another shooter hopefully will help address that.
Returnees:
2024 - none
2025 - Oweh, Chandler, Garrison, Noah, Perry (HUGE upgrade)
Incoming Freshmen:
2024 - Noah, Perry
2025 - Johnson, Moreno (HUGE upgrade)
Incoming Transfers
2024 - #5 class per 247
2025 - #2 class per 247 (Upgrade per rankings, but we'll see)
Based on that, 2025 should have a much better roster. I loved the 2024 transfers, but Mark Pope had an awful lot to do with that. Those guys weren't ranked nearly as highly as our new guys.
Aside from that, we have addressed playmaking, athleticism, toughness, rebounding and rim protection, which were weaknesses last season. Defense should be upgraded substantially, although losing Butler hurts on the perimeter. We are downgrading 3pt%. Adding another shooter hopefully will help address that.
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I'm just not sure how you say that. He scored a bunch last year because he shot a bunch. I know Pitt was awful and he was their best player. I get all of that. I know his number regressed massively from his frosh year too. I also THINK (key word) his numbers will rebound in a better system surrounded by better players. But I don't discount the fact he was playing in a piss poor conference and he's not coming to a piss poor conference. I honestly THINK he could be a better player. But I also honestly THINK he could be pretty freaking bad too.
People that say next years roster won’t be better are just being miserable for the sake of being miserable. I know it’s hard to believe, that we could be better than 24-12 with a sweet sixteen appearance. Kentucky doesn’t too that too often.
Sack up
Sack up
- Garrison can't play the 4.
- JQ, who currently can't run is just supposed to be better than Amari? Hell, we don't even know if/when he will be available.
- JJ is equal to JR? Oof. And this is coming from someone who LOVES JJ and though JR was soft AF.
Or, they're just looking at things very realistically. Losing Lewis stings a bit. The uncertainty of JQ's health. Which Lowe are we getting, the frosh that showed promise or the inefficient volume performer from last year? Is Garrison REALLY the 4? Those are all HUGE question marks. I don't know that we are any worse, but I don't think we are any better either.
For the record, I don't think we are done adding actual pieces that will play.
Instead of making a definitive statement with no explanation, try making one where you actually defend the point.
Lamont is quite a better player when both are healthy. I'm not disputing this. But sadly he had one arm for half the year. It sucked. A 2 armed healthy Lowe with Pope's guidance and system should be hopefully about a push or better than a 1 armed Lamont. We better hope so at least.
Chandler was a freshmen last year too. Obviously still an edge to 2025 class.
It’s definitely more talented than last years. Just need to add a couple more pieces
Typical UK fan on this board:
We still need a PG, a Shooter, a PF, and another Center. Make that two more PGs. PGs are always getting injured . Never mind we have 11 guys already and half will decommit/enter the portal if we add too many more players, if they can’t take the competition, we don’t need them, we are UK, we should get all the players we want and then some. Come on Pope, we need MORE players!!!!! 20 might not be enough! Always need MOOOOOORE!!!!
LOL!
We still need a PG, a Shooter, a PF, and another Center. Make that two more PGs. PGs are always getting injured . Never mind we have 11 guys already and half will decommit/enter the portal if we add too many more players, if they can’t take the competition, we don’t need them, we are UK, we should get all the players we want and then some. Come on Pope, we need MORE players!!!!! 20 might not be enough! Always need MOOOOOORE!!!!
LOL!
Why do you think Lowe was rated a top 25 transfer? What about his game has him above almost everyone else? I’m just curious what you’re seeing on this one, because I’ve watched enough film on him to at least see what the hype is about.
People way undersell carr. When healthy, dude was a massive problem. Even at about 75% towards the end of the season, him coming back made a huge difference. He could literally do everything on both ends.
This current roster still needs a talented versatile 4 and another good shooter. Get those and we will be in business if JQ comes back.
I agree. I think people are way over blowing the talent upgrade. I think you can make an argument we added some intangible qualities (toughness, motor, aggressiveness) that were missing last year and that a similar or slight upgrade in talent maybe enough. I don’t see player for player though how this roster is better. I’d we add Wilkerson and another big I’d probably agree.
I’m also saying IF we add anybody the caliber of a Wilkerson and Fougaries and I’m sure Pope is going to add 2 possibly 3 more players and both those guys start. It will be a much upgraded roster in athleticism alone. Say we start Lowe, Wilkerson, Owen, Alvaro and Garrison my god look at the bench. Chandler, JJ, Daibate, Moreno, Quantance, Kam, Noah and Perry.
You guys are sleeping on how good Lowe and Otega are going to be next year. 33 points combined last year. Add scorers like Wilkerson and Alvaro with the athletics of Kam, Jayden, Chandler and Diabate man that’s some good stuff. Thrown in all the KY boys JJ, Moreno, Noah and Perry who will play there hearts out I’m still saying it’s an upgraded roster. With or without BG.
You guys are sleeping on how good Lowe and Otega are going to be next year. 33 points combined last year. Add scorers like Wilkerson and Alvaro with the athletics of Kam, Jayden, Chandler and Diabate man that’s some good stuff. Thrown in all the KY boys JJ, Moreno, Noah and Perry who will play there hearts out I’m still saying it’s an upgraded roster. With or without BG.
A dude shooting 36% FG....and 26% from 3pt land vs
Butler shooting 49%FG...39% 3pt (and he went a bit cold after hurting his shoulder) and defensive player n his conference before UK
In what world is Lowe better than Butler?
When you looked at this year's roster before the season started did you see a sweet 16 team?
2011-12 championship team had 1 point guard, Teague. Doron Lamb was his backup, a shooting guard. In most cases this is the situation. We have other guards on the roster that can handle the ball. In most cases you don't have injuries. Florida does not win the title if Clayton gets hurt. We were unfortunate last year, hopefully lightning doesn't strike twice.
This would be the best case scenario as you have BOTH Oweh and Garrison returning. Although I believe Oweh does in fact return, Garrison could go either way. It would be nice if both do come back, as having kids come back that already know the system and played major minutes is vital.
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I must add that college and the OTE are two different animals in terms of defense and pressure.
I seen a Sweet 16 ceiling for last year's squad. With the roster we have right now on April 11th, at 4:27pm (CST), I also see a Sweet 16 ceiling. I know we aren't done in the portal, so the Sweet 16 ceiling could elevate with additional recruits. But this is how I see the team right now.
If this was Jasper, I might be concerned.
We lost a freshman 4star player, I still think this roster on paper is better than what we had last year. We have 3 guys still that are rated higher in recruiting rankings than ANY one we had on last years roster.
We lost a freshman 4star player, I still think this roster on paper is better than what we had last year. We have 3 guys still that are rated higher in recruiting rankings than ANY one we had on last years roster.
I think some folks don't understand it's no longer a 12-month injury in every case due to medical advancements in the last 20-30 years.
I’ve had two ACL surgeries so I guess you would know better than me. I was cleared after 4-5 months both times and it was the head of Ortho at UK that did the surgeries and the follow up. I’m not a college basketball player though. But 2-4 months after that should be good.
You say there are a handful of players that we list. Can you list one that took a year? I could see him re-aggravate the injury or tear his other ACL, which is common, but those are different things.
TLR also said that quote because Stan ‘the man’ and Pujols ‘the Machine’ were Cardinal legends.
But he was a PG in high school, just like Lewis. He can play both positions and not in a Robinson or Chandler way, but as an actual lead guard.
Lewis leaving honestly clears up a lot of traffic as people were pencilling Johnson and Chandler in on the 3rd string which is not happening.
We have two. Johnson is a CG. He can play the 1-3.
We will add another combo as well.
But it’s nonsense to think we will keep adding and adding quality players.
When we add quality players, the other quality players see their PT dwindle and leave. Just like with Lewis.
You can’t just stockpile talent in the age of the portal.
If you can get 12-13 guys, then the last 2-3 will probably be developmental guys or Kentucky boys or probably both.
I agree with OP, adding Wilkerson and someone else that can possibly play the 4 would be ideal. Just adding Wilkerson would be excellent, as a 3 guard lineup wouldn't be out of the picture anyhow. It's just seeing if Kam Williams can possibly play the 4 some, which his numbers from this past season indicate is possible. I think people are being dramatic with the disdain for Garrison, and if he chooses to stay I expect him to be better equipped for the 4 position, given what Pope said about him to close the season.
Because he was better than most others in the portal? Points and minutes played in a P4 conference? His numbers are concerning enough to make him not a sure bet.
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